COULD YOU SAVE A LIFE?
Hairdressers can play an important role in early skin cancer detection. Each year more people in Australia die of skin cancer than they do on our roads. In fact, 2 out of 3 Australians will have been diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70 and, as hairdressers, we are in a unique position to help our clients remain vigilant by spotting changes and abnormalities.
Skin cancers can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp; an area that is difficult for many people to check themselves. Stylists, however, have an excellent view of the head and scalp and can often be the first to spot something unusual. Skin cancer is an uncontrolled growth of damaged skin cells, mostly due to overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Finding skin cancer at an early stage significantly increases the chance of successful treatment, whereas when left untreated, some skin cancers can prove to be fatal. There are three main types of skin cancers named after the skin cells they start developing in: • basal cell carcinoma (BCC), • squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and • melanoma.
WHAT CAN I DO?
Here are some things to look out for whilst working with clients:
WHAT DO I DO IF I NOTICE SOMETHING IRREGULAR ON A CLIENT?
Don’t be alarmed- not every suspicious spot is a skin cancer. The best approach is to calmly mention to the customer that you noticed a spot on their scalp, neck or ear and ask if they knew it was there. Perhaps they have already had it 98
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checked and have been advised that it is not skin cancer. If they are not aware of the spot, you could point out the location of the spot and suggest that they might want to get their doctor to check it out next time they’re at the surgery. Only a qualified doctor or dermatologist can determine if the spot is cancerous or not, so it’s best NOT to mention that they may have skin cancer! If you do notice something, don’t ignore it. It’s better to raise the issue and have a false alarm than not mention it and have it turn out to be skin cancer. Your client would no doubt be incredibly grateful if you alerted them early, allowing them to achieve a successful treatment outcome. Early detection is the key to reducing the impact of the skin cancer, so if you see something, say something!
BACKGROUND STATISTICS
• Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. • 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before the age of 70. • More than 2,000 people die of skin cancer each year in Australia- more than the national road toll. • Skin cancer accounts for about 80% of all new cancer diagnoses in Australia. • Skin cancer is the most common cancer in 15-29 year olds. • Ultraviolet (UV) is the cause of most skin cancers. UV radiation has been categorised as a class one carcinogen, the same as both asbestos and tobacco. • Skin cancer is also one of the more preventable cancers, simply by consistent sun protection when the UV level is 3 or higher. • The earlier a skin cancer is found and treated, the more likely of a positive treatment outcome.
www.cancer.org.au